I thought my chance had gone, says Simon Shaw

Tuesday 23 August 2011 10:14 BST

In the darkest moment of his long career, Simon Shaw wanted the Stade de France pitch to swallow him up as the crushing disappointment of losing the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final to South Africa hit home.

Having been handed a winner's medal as an unused squad member in 2003, Shaw had been determined to properly "earn" the right to call himself a World Cup winner and the desperation that swept over his 6ft 9in frame in Paris was accentuated by the belief he would never get another chance.

Now, nine days before his 38th birthday, Shaw is celebrating becoming the oldest member of England's 30-strong squad for next month's World Cup in New Zealand and the dream he had four years ago is alive again.

The London Wasps stalwart is out of contract and without a club after a staggering 237 Premiership matches but has plenty to think about as he looks to go one better than 2007.

"After we had lost to South Africa, standing on the pitch following the final whistle, I just wanted the ground to swallow me up and disappear off the planet," he said.

"I felt that low and devastated because I had failed to achieve my goal of winning a World Cup Final and earn a winner's medal by rights rather than receive one never having played a part in the tournament. My mindset and belief four years ago was that I would not get another chance to win a final but I have been selected for my third World Cup and it's brilliant.

"Hopefully, we can go deep into this tournament and I can get another chance to win a World Cup Final. The most fantastic part of all of this is that I had this as a goal for this season and now that I have made the squad, I realise that is just the first step.

"I want to play against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday and in the opening World Cup match against Argentina on 10 September."

Shaw made his England debut in 1996 and despite various injuries and ferocious competition - including World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson who is now the team manager - he has amassed 67 caps and will have a key role to play, particularly against the big packs that dominate the pool.

After the Pumas clash in Dunedin, England face Georgia and Romania before concluding their group matches against Scotland and Shaw's ability to destroy opposition mauls by physically wrapping up the ball carrier will be a key asset.

He is vying with 30-year-old Louis Deacon, Tom Palmer, 32, and Courtney Lawes, 22, for a starting place in the second row in Dublin and given England's loss to Wales in Cardiff in their second warm-up match, the clash with Ireland must provide much needed momentum before the players head to New Zealand.

Given the age factor, Shaw knew he faced two battles coming into the England training sessions that preceded the two matches with Wales. First he had to convince Johnson and the other coaches he was fit for rugby and then he had to show the younger locks that having so many miles on the clock was a positive for the squad.

He said: "Going into this pre-season with England, I didn't want to give the coaches the excuse of not picking me because I'd sat out sessions and didn't train as much as the rest of the guys.

"Statistically, I've probably trained more than any of the other second rows and I'm probably stronger now than I've ever been in the gym and that is because I have done more rehab work than in the past. There are things in training that early in your career you took for granted in terms of ensuring the work you do protects key areas like shoulders and keeps you flexible.

"I have taken all of that advice from the physios on board this pre-season and I feel much better for doing that work. With news like this - yes it's fantastic - but then you look for the next target. I am not delusional and believe that I will be starting in most of the Test matches but that is my aim - to be a problem for the selectors.

"I did have a laugh with Johnno when we were setting out individual goals at the start of this pre-season and he smiled at me and said, 'I bet you just want to get through this, don't you!' Playing in the front five is very attritional and you have to be as fit and strong as possible."

Having been initially left at home by team manager Clive Woodward in 2003 - he only joined the squad when Danny Grewcock was injured - Shaw knows exactly how bad former Wasps team-mate Riki Flutey is feeling after being deemed surplus to requirements by Johnson yesterday.

"I am absolutely gutted for Riki who has done everything that has been asked of him and having missed out in 2003 and then been flown out later in the tournament, I know how things can change," added Shaw. "I said to Riki that I will see him out there and to keep his chin up and play well for Wasps because anything can happen."